Inner surface features for co-current contractors

ABSTRACT

A co-current contactor for separating components in a fluid stream, the co-current contactor comprising a first inlet configured to receive the fluid stream proximate to a first end of the co-current contactor, a second inlet configured to receive a solvent proximate the first end of the co-current contactor, and a mass transfer section configured to receive the fluid stream and the solvent and to provide a mixed, two-phase flow, wherein the mass transfer section comprises a surface feature along an inner surface of the mass transfer section configured to reduce film flow along an inner wall of the mass transfer section, and wherein the surface feature comprises at least one of a hydrophobic surface, a superhydrophobic surface, a porous wall surface, and a nonlinear surface irregularity extending radially inward or radially outward along the inner surface of the mass transfer section.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/117,234 filed Feb. 17, 2015 entitled INNER SURFACE FEATURES FOR CO-CURRENT CONTACTORS, the entirety of which is incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

The production of hydrocarbons from a reservoir oftentimes carries with it the incidental production of non-hydrocarbon gases. Such gases include contaminants such as hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and carbon dioxide (CO₂). When H₂S or CO₂ are produced as part of a hydrocarbon stream (such as methane or ethane), the raw gas stream is sometimes referred to as “sour gas.” The H₂S and CO₂ are often referred to together as “acid gases.”

In addition to hydrocarbon production streams, acid gases may be associated with synthesis gas streams, or with refinery gas streams. Acid gases may also be present within so-called flash-gas streams in gas processing facilities. Further, acid gases may be generated by the combustion of coal, natural gas, or other carbonaceous fuels.

Gas and/or hydrocarbon fluid streams may contain not only H₂S or CO₂, but may also contain other “acidic” impurities. These include mercaptans and other trace sulfur compounds (SO_(x)). In addition, natural gas streams may contain water. Indeed, water is the most common contaminant in many natural gas streams. Such impurities should be removed prior to industrial or residential use.

Processes have been devised to remove contaminants from a raw natural gas stream. In the case of acid gases, cryogenic gas processing is sometimes used, particularly to remove CO₂ to prevent line freezing and plugged orifices. In other instances, particularly with H₂S removal, the hydrocarbon fluid stream is treated with a solvent. Solvents may include chemical solvents such as amines. Examples of amines used in sour gas treatment include monoethanol amine (MEA), diethanol amine (DEA), and methyl diethanol amine (MDEA).

Physical solvents are sometimes used in lieu of amine solvents. Examples include physical solvents currently marketed under the brand names Selexol® (comprising dimethyl ethers of polyethylene glycol) and Rectisol™ (comprising methanol). In some instances hybrid solvents, meaning mixtures of physical and chemical solvents, have been used. An example of one such hybrid solvent is currently marketed under the brand name Sulfinol® (comprising sulfolane, water, and one or more amines). However, the use of amine-based acid gas removal solvents is most common.

Amine-based solvents rely on a chemical reaction with the acid gases. The reaction process is sometimes referred to as “gas sweetening.” Such chemical reactions are generally more effective than the physical-based solvents, particularly at feed gas pressures below about 300 pounds per square inch absolute (psia) (about 20 bar). There are instances where special chemical solvents such as Flexsorb® (comprising hindered amine) are used, particularly for selectively removing H₂S from CO₂-containing gas and/or hydrocarbon fluid streams.

As a result of the gas sweetening process, a treated or “sweetened” gas stream is created. The sweetened gas stream is substantially depleted of H₂S and/or CO₂ components. The sweetened gas can be further processed for liquids recovery, that is, by condensing out heavier hydrocarbon gases. The sweet gas may be sold into a pipeline or may be used for liquefied natural gas (LNG) feed. In addition, the sweetened gas stream may be used as feedstock for a gas-to-liquids process, and then ultimately used to make waxes, butanes, lubricants, glycols and other petroleum-based products. The extracted CO₂ may be sold, or it may be injected into a subterranean reservoir for enhanced oil recovery operations.

When a natural gas stream contains water, a dehydration process is usually undertaken before or after acid gas removal. This is done through the use of glycol or other desiccant in a water separator. The dehydration of natural gas is done to control the formation of gas hydrates and to prevent corrosion in distribution pipelines. The formation of gas hydrates and corrosion in pipelines can cause a decrease in flow volume as well as frozen control valves, plugged orifices and other operating problems.

Traditionally, the removal of acid gases or water using chemical solvents or desiccants involves counter-currently contacting the raw natural gas stream with the chemical. The raw gas stream is introduced into the bottom section of a contacting tower. At the same time, the solvent solution is directed into a top section of the tower. The tower has trays, packing, or other “internals.” As the liquid solvent cascades through the internals, it absorbs the undesirable components, carrying them away through the bottom of the contacting tower as part of a “rich” solvent solution. At the same time, gaseous fluid that is largely depleted of the undesirable components exits at the top of the tower.

The rich solvent or rich glycol, as the case may be, that exits the contactor is sometimes referred to as an absorbent liquid. Following absorption, a process of regeneration (also called “desorption”) may be employed to separate contaminants from the active solvent of the absorbent liquid. This produces a “lean” solvent or a “lean” glycol that is then typically recycled into the contacting tower for further absorption.

While perhaps capable of performing desired contacting for removal of contaminants from a gas and/or hydrocarbon-containing fluid stream, historic contactor solutions have had difficulty scaling-up from lab and/or pilot-sized units to units capable of efficiently processing up to a billion standard cubic feet per day (BSFD) of gas. Past scale-up solutions have high capital expenses (e.g., due to having larger and more pieces of equipment, etc.) and high operational expenses (e.g., due to less reliability and/or operability, larger size and weight equipment, etc.). Consequently, a need exists for a contacting solution that is smaller, has fewer pieces of equipment, has improved operability and reliability, and weighs less than traditional contacting equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure includes a co-current contactor for separating components in a fluid stream, the co-current contactor comprising a first inlet configured to receive the fluid stream proximate to a first end of the co-current contactor, a second inlet configured to receive a solvent proximate the first end of the co-current contactor, and a mass transfer section configured to receive the fluid stream and the solvent and to provide a mixed, two-phase flow, wherein the mass transfer section comprises a surface feature along an inner surface of the mass transfer section configured to reduce film flow along an inner wall of the mass transfer section, and wherein the surface feature comprises at least one of a hydrophobic surface, a superhydrophobic surface, a porous wall surface, and a nonlinear surface irregularity extending radially inward or radially outward along the inner surface of the mass transfer section.

The disclosure further includes a method of separating components in a co-current contactor, comprising passing a fluid into the co-current contactor, passing a solvent into the co-current contactor, placing the fluid in contact with the solvent to create a combined stream, passing the combined stream through a mass transfer section of the co-current contactor, impeding an amount of liquid from propagating along a wall of the mass transfer section using a surface feature, and separating the fluid from the solvent.

The disclosure additionally includes a co-current contacting system for separating a contaminant from an initial gas stream, comprising a gas stream supply, a solvent supply, a first co-current contactor and a second co-current contactor arranged in a counter current configuration, wherein each co-current contactor is configured (i) to receive a gas stream and a liquid solvent, and (ii) to release a treated gas stream and a separate gas-treating solution, and wherein each of the co-current contactors comprises a first inlet configured to receive the fluid stream proximate to a first end of the co-current contactor, a second inlet configured to receive a solvent proximate the first end of the co-current contactor, and a mass transfer section configured to receive the fluid stream and the solvent and to provide a mixed, two-phase flow, wherein the mass transfer section comprises a surface feature along an inner surface of the mass transfer section configured to reduce film flow along an inner wall of the mass transfer section, and wherein the surface feature is selected from a group consisting of a hydrophobic surface, a superhydrophobic surface, a raised surface, a recessed surface, and a porous wall surface.

It is understood that the methods above may be used to remove a contaminant, e.g., an acid gas component, a water component, etc., from other fluid streams. These separated fluid streams may include, for example, a sour water stream, a flash-gas stream, or a Claus tail gas stream.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the present invention can be better understood, certain illustrations, charts and/or flow charts are appended hereto. It is to be noted, however, that the drawings illustrate only selected embodiments of the inventions and are therefore not to be considered limiting of scope, for the inventions may admit to other equally effective embodiments and applications.

FIG. 1A is a process flow diagram of a gas processing system that includes a co-current flow scheme.

FIG. 1B is a process flow diagram of another gas processing system that includes a co-current flow scheme.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a co-current contacting system comprising multiple co-current contactors.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of a single stage multiple co-current contactor bundle configuration.

FIG. 4A is a schematic view of a liquid droplet resting on a hydrophobic surface and a superhydrophobic surface.

FIG. 4B is a schematic view of a raised surface having an impingement angle relative to a direction of flow of a stream.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a co-current contactor having a plurality of surface features.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a co-current contactor having a plurality of surface features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the term “co-current contacting device” or “co-current contactor” means an apparatus, e.g., a pipe, a vessel, a housing, an assembly, etc., that receives (i) a stream of gas (or other fluid stream to be treated) and (ii) a separate stream of liquid solvent (or other fluid treating solution) in such a manner that the gas stream and the solvent stream contact one another while flowing in generally the same direction within the contacting device.

As used herein, the term “non-absorbing gas” means a gas that is not absorbed by a solvent during a gas treating or conditioning process, e.g., during co-current contacting.

As used herein, the term “natural gas” refers to a multi-component gas obtained from a crude oil well (associated gas) or from a subterranean gas-bearing formation (non-associated gas). The composition and pressure of natural gas can vary significantly. A typical natural gas stream contains methane (C₁) as a significant component. The natural gas stream may also contain ethane (C₂), higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, one or more acid gases, and water. The natural gas may also contain minor amounts of contaminants such as nitrogen, iron sulfide, and wax.

As used herein, an “acid gas” means any gas that dissolves in water producing an acidic solution. Non-limiting examples of acid gases include hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), carbon dioxide (CO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), carbon disulfide (CS₂), carbonyl sulfide (COS), mercaptans, or mixtures thereof.

As used herein, the term “flue gas” means any gas stream generated as a by-product of hydrocarbon combustion.

As used herein, the term “industrial plant” refers to any plant that generates a gas stream containing at least one hydrocarbon or an acid gas. One non-limiting example is a coal-powered electrical generation plant. Another example is a cement plant that emits CO₂ at low pressures.

As used herein, the term “liquid solvent” means a fluid in substantially liquid phase that preferentially absorbs one component over another. For example, a liquid solvent may preferentially absorb an acid gas, thereby removing or “scrubbing” at least a portion of the acid gas component from a gas stream or a water stream.

As used herein, the term “sweetened gas stream” refers to a fluid stream in a substantially gaseous phase that has had at least a portion of acid gas components removed. Further, the term “sweetened” may also refer to a fluid stream that has been subjected to a dehydration or other conditioning process.

As used herein, the term “hydrocarbon” refers to an organic compound that includes primarily, if not exclusively, the elements hydrogen and carbon. Hydrocarbons generally fall into two classes: aliphatic, or straight chain hydrocarbons, and cyclic, or closed ring, hydrocarbons including cyclic terpenes. Examples of hydrocarbon-containing materials include any form of natural gas, oil, coal, and bitumen that can be used as a fuel or upgraded into a fuel.

As used herein, the term “hydrophobic” means a physical property wherein a surface exhibits a high contact angle (for example, between about 90° and about 150°) at the interface between the relevant liquid and the surface at standard ambient temperature and pressure and/or at operating temperature and pressure.

As used herein, the term “superhydrophobic” means a physical property wherein a surface seemingly exhibits a high contact angle (for example, between about 150° and about) 179° at the interface between the relevant liquid and the surface at standard ambient temperature and pressure and/or at operating temperature and pressure. Alternately or additionally, the term superhydrophobic may mean that only a relatively small portion of the surface area of a drop of liquid is in contact with a surface, e.g., between 0 and about 4%, between 0 and about 3%, between 0 and about 2%, between 0 and about 1%, etc.

As used herein, the terms “lean” and “rich,” with respect to the absorbent liquid removal of a selected gas component from a gas stream, are relative, merely implying, respectively, a lesser or greater degree of content of the selected gas component. The respective terms “lean” and “rich” do not necessarily indicate or require, respectively, either that an absorbent liquid is totally devoid of the selected gaseous component, or that it is incapable of absorbing more of the selected gas component. In fact, it is preferred, as will be evident hereinafter, that the so called “rich” absorbent liquid produced in a first contactor in a series of two or more contactors retains significant or substantial residual absorptive capacity. Conversely, a “lean” absorbent liquid will be understood to be capable of substantial absorption, but may retain a minor concentration of the gas component being removed.

With respect to fluid processing equipment, the term “in series” means that two or more devices are placed along a flow line such that a fluid stream undergoing fluid separation moves from one item of equipment to the next while maintaining flow in a substantially constant downstream direction. Similarly, the term “in line” means that two or more components of a fluid mixing and separating device are connected sequentially or, more preferably, are integrated into a single tubular device.

As used herein, the term “fluid” refers to gases, liquids, and combinations of gases and liquids, as well as to combinations of gases and solids, and combinations of liquids and solids.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1A is a process flow diagram of a gas processing system 100 that includes a co-current flow scheme arranged in a counter current configuration. The gas processing system 100 may be used for the removal of H₂S or other acid gas components from a gas stream 102. In addition, in some embodiments, the gas processing system 100 may be used for the removal of water or other impurities from the gas stream 102.

The gas processing system 100 may employ a number of vertically oriented co-current contacting systems 104A-F. In some embodiments, each vertically oriented co-current contacting system 104A-F includes vertically oriented co-current contactor upstream of a separation system. In other embodiments, each vertically oriented co-current contacting system 104A-F includes a number of vertically oriented co-current contactors upstream of a single separation system. As would be apparent to those of skill in the art, any or all of the co-current contacting systems 104A-F may be either vertically oriented or horizontally oriented, depending on the details of the specific implementation, and such alternate embodiments are within the scope of this disclosure.

The gas stream 102 may be a natural gas stream from a hydrocarbon production operation. For example, the gas stream 102 may be a flue gas stream from a power plant, or a synthesis gas (syn-gas) stream. If the natural gas stream 102 is a syn-gas stream, the gas stream 102 may be cooled and filtered before being introduced into the gas processing system 100. The gas stream 102 may also be a flash gas stream taken from a flash drum in a gas processing system itself. In addition, the gas stream 102 may be a tail gas stream from a Claus sulfur recovery process or an impurities stream from a regenerator. Furthermore, the gas stream 102 may be an exhaust emission from a cement plant or other industrial plant. In this instance, CO₂ may be absorbed from excess air or from a nitrogen-containing flue gas.

The gas stream 102 may include a non-absorbing gas, such as methane, and one or more impurities, such as an acid gas. For example, the gas stream 102 may include CO₂ or H₂S. The gas processing system 100 may convert the gas stream 102 into a sweetened gas stream 106 by removing the acid gases.

In operation, the gas stream 102 may be flowed into a first co-current contacting system 104A, where it is mixed with a solvent stream 108. If the gas processing system 100 is to be used for the removal of H₂S, or other sulfur compounds, the solvent stream 108 may include an amine solution, such as monoethanol amine (MEA), diethanol amine (DEA), or methyldiethanol amine (MDEA). Other solvents, such as physical solvents, alkaline salts solutions, or ionic liquids, may also be used for H₂S removal. In embodiments used for other purposes, such as dehydration or reactions, other solvents or reactants, such as glycols, may be used. The solvent stream 108 may include a lean solvent that has undergone a desorption process for the removal of acid gas impurities. For example, in the gas processing system 100 shown in FIG. 1A, the solvent stream 108 introduced into the first co-current contacting system 104A includes a semi-lean solvent that is taken from a central portion of a regenerator 110. A lean solvent stream 112 taken from the regenerator 110 may also be directed into a final co-current contacting system 104F.

In various embodiments, the gas processing system 100 employs a series of co-current contacting systems 104A-F. In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 1A, the co-current contacting systems 104A-F may be arranged in a counter current configuration. Each co-current contacting system 104A-F removes a portion of the acid gas content from the natural gas stream 102, thereby releasing a progressively sweetened natural gas stream in a downstream direction. The final co-current contacting system 104F provides the final sweetened natural gas stream 106.

Before entering the first co-current contacting system 104A, the natural gas stream 102 may pass through an inlet separator 114. The inlet separator 114 may be used to clean the natural gas stream 102 by filtering out impurities, such as brine and drilling fluids. Some particle filtration may also take place. The cleaning of the natural gas stream 102 can prevent foaming of solvent during the acid gas treatment process.

As shown in FIG. 1A, the solvent stream 108 is flowed into the first co-current contacting system 104A. Movement of the semi-lean solvent stream 108 into the first co-current contacting system 104A may be aided by a pump 116. The pump 116 may cause the semi-lean solvent stream 108 to flow into the first co-current contacting system 104A at a suitable pressure, for example, of about 15 psig to about 1,500 psig.

Once inside the first co-current contacting system 104A, the natural gas stream 102 and the solvent stream 108 move along the longitudinal axis of the first co-current contacting system 104A. As they travel, the solvent stream 108 interacts with the H₂S, H₂O, and/or other impurities in the natural gas stream 102, causing the H₂S, H₂O, and/or other impurities to chemically attach to or be absorbed by the amine molecules. A first partially-loaded, or “rich,” gas treating solution 118A may be flowed out of the first co-current contacting system 104A. In addition, a first partially-sweetened natural gas stream 120A may be flowed out of the first co-current contacting system 104A and into a second co-current contacting system 104B. This general arrangement may be referred to as arranging co-current contactors in a counter current configuration.

As shown in the example illustrated in FIG. 1A, a third co-current contacting system 104C may be provided after the second co-current contacting system 104B, and a fourth co-current contacting system 104D may be provided after the third co-current contacting system 104C. In addition, a fifth co-current contacting system 104E may be provided after the fourth co-current contacting system 104D, and a final co-current contacting system 104F may be provided after the fifth co-current contacting system 104E. Each of the second, third, fourth, and fifth co-current contacting systems 104B, 104C, 104D, and 104E may generate a respective partially-sweetened natural gas stream 120B, 120C, 120D, and 120E. In addition, each of the second, third, fourth, fifth, and final co-current contacting systems 104B, 104C, 104D, 104E, and 104F may generate respective partially-loaded gas treating solution 118B, 118C, 118D, 118E, and 118F. If an amine is used as the solvent stream 108, the partially-loaded gas treating solutions 118A-F may include rich amine solutions. In the gas processing system 100, the second loaded gas treating solution 118B merges with the rich gas treating solution 118A and goes through a regeneration process in the regenerator 110.

As the progressively-sweetened natural gas streams 120A-E are generated, the gas pressure in the gas processing system 100 will gradually decrease. As this occurs, the liquid pressure of the progressively-richer gas treating solutions 118A-F may be correspondingly increased. This may be accomplished by placing one or more booster pumps (not shown) between each co-current contacting system 104A-F to boost liquid pressure in the gas processing system 100.

In the gas processing system 100, solvent streams may be regenerated by flowing the partially-loaded gas treating solutions 118A and 118B through a flash drum 121. Absorbed natural gas 122 may be flashed from the partially-loaded gas treating solutions 118A and 118B within the flash drum 121, and may be flowed out of the flash drum 121 via an overhead line 124.

The resulting rich solvent stream 126 may be flowed from the flash drum 121 to the regenerator 110. The rich solvent stream 126 may be introduced into the regenerator 110 for desorption. The regenerator 110 may include a stripper portion 128 including trays or other internals (not shown). The stripper portion 128 may be located directly above a heating portion 130. A heat source 132 may be provided with the heating portion 130 to generate heat. The regenerator 110 produces the regenerated, lean solvent stream 112 that is recycled for re-use in the final co-current contacting system 104F. Stripped overhead gas from the regenerator 110, which may include concentrated H₂S (or CO₂), may be flowed out of the regenerator 110 as an overhead impurities stream 134.

The overhead impurities stream 134 may be flowed into a condenser 135, which may cool the overhead impurities stream 134. The resulting cooled impurities stream 138 may be flowed through a reflux accumulator 140. The reflux accumulator 140 may separate any remaining liquid, such as condensed water, from the impurities stream 138. This may result in the generation of a substantially pure acid gas stream 142, which may be flowed out of the reflux accumulator 140 via an overhead line 144.

In some embodiments, if the initial natural gas stream 102 includes CO₂, and a CO₂-selective solvent stream 108 is used, the acid gas stream 142 includes primarily CO₂. The CO₂-rich acid gas stream 142 may be used as part of a miscible EOR operation to recover oil. If the oil reservoir to be flooded does not contain a significant amount of H₂S or other sulfur compounds, the CO₂ to be used for the EOR operation may not contain significant H₂S or other sulfur compounds. However, concentrated CO₂ streams from oil and gas production operations may be contaminated with small amounts of H₂S. Thus, it may be desirable to remove the H₂S from the CO₂, unless the acid gas stream 142 is to be injected purely for geologic sequestration.

While a gas stream 102 is discussed herein, those of skill in the art will appreciate that generally the same principles may be applied to any fluid stream, including with respect to liquid-liquid contacting. Consequently, use of the phrases “gas stream,” “gas inlet,” “gas outlet,” etc. are to be understood as non-limiting and may optionally be replaced with “fluid stream,” “fluid inlet,” “fluid outlet,” and so forth in various embodiments within the scope of this disclosure. Use of the phrases “gas stream,” “gas inlet,” “gas outlet,” etc. are for the sake of convenience only.

In some embodiments, if the initial natural gas stream 102 includes H₂S, an H₂S-selective solvent stream 108 may be used to capture the H₂S. The H₂S may then be converted into elemental sulfur using a sulfur recovery unit (not shown). The sulfur recovery unit may be a so-called Claus unit. Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that a “Claus process” is a process that is sometimes used by the natural gas and refinery industries to recover elemental sulfur from H₂S-containing gas streams.

In practice, the “tail gas” from the Claus process, which may include H₂S, SO₂, CO₂, N₂, and water vapor, can be reacted to convert the SO₂ to H₂S via hydrogenation. The hydrogenated tail gas stream has a high partial pressure, a large amount of CO₂, e.g., more than 50%, and a small amount of H₂S, e.g., a few percent or less. This type of gas stream, which is typically near atmospheric pressure, is amenable to selective H₂S removal. The recovered H₂S may be recycled to the front of the Claus unit, or may be sequestered downstream. Alternatively, a direct oxidation of the H₂S to elemental sulfur may be performed using various processes known in the field of gas separation.

As shown in FIG. 1A, a residual liquid stream 146 may be flowed out of the bottom of the reflux accumulator 140. The residual liquid stream 146 may be flowed through a reflux pump 148, which may boost the pressure of the residual liquid stream 146 and pump the residual liquid stream 146 into the regenerator 110. The residual liquid stream 146 may be flowed out of the regenerator 110, for example, from the bottom of the heating portion 130 as part of the lean solvent stream 112. Some water may be added to the lean solvent stream 112 to balance the loss of water vapor to the partially sweetened natural gas streams 120A-E. This water may be added at an intake or suction of the reflux pump 148.

The lean solvent stream 112 may be at a low pressure. Accordingly, the lean solvent stream 112 may be passed through a pressure boosting pump 150. From the pressure boosting pump 150, the lean solvent stream 112 may be flowed through a cooler 154. The cooler 154 may cool the lean solvent stream 112 to ensure that the lean solvent stream 112 will absorb acid gases effectively. The resulting chilled lean solvent stream 156 is then used as the solvent stream for the final co-current contacting system 104F.

In some embodiments, a solvent tank 158 is provided proximate the final co-current contacting system 104F. The chilled lean solvent stream 156 may be flowed from the solvent tank 158. In other embodiments, the solvent tank 158 is off-line and provides a reservoir for the lean solvent stream 156.

The process flow diagram of FIG. 1A is not intended to indicate that the gas processing system 100 is to include all of the components shown in FIG. 1A. Further, any number of additional components may be included within the gas processing system 100, depending on the details of the specific implementation. For example, the gas processing system 100 may include any suitable types of heaters, chillers, condensers, liquid pumps, gas compressors, blowers, bypass lines, other types of separation and/or fractionation equipment, valves, switches, controllers, and pressure-measuring devices, temperature-measuring devices, level-measuring devices, or flow-measuring devices, among others.

FIG. 1B is a process flow diagram of another gas processing system 160 that includes a co-current flow scheme. Like numbered items are as described with respect to FIG. 1A. Operation of the gas processing system 160 of FIG. 1B is similar to that of the gas processing system 100 of FIG. 1A. However, in the gas processing system 160, the first co-current contacting system 104A receives the partially-loaded gas treating solution 118B from the second co-current contacting system 104B. Therefore, the gas processing system 160 does not include the semi-lean solvent stream 108. In this example, the series of co-current contacting systems 104A-F acts like a separation column, for example, wherein each stage corresponds to a packed stage.

Because the partially-loaded gas treating solution 118B received by the first co-current contacting system 104A in FIG. 1B has already been processed through the second co-current contacting system 104B, the partially-loaded gas treating solution 118B may be very rich. For this reason, it may be desirable to provide some level of intermediate processing of the partially-loaded gas treating solution 118B.

Alternatively, a semi-lean liquid stream could be taken from other sweetening operations in the gas processing system 160 and used, at least in part, as an amine solution for the first or second co-current contacting system 104A or 104B. In this respect, there are situations in which a single type of solvent is used for more than one service in the gas processing system 160. This is referred to as integrated gas treatment. For example, MDEA may be used both for high-pressure, H₂S-selective acid gas removal, as well as in a Claus tail gas treating (TGT) process. The rich amine stream from the TGT process is not heavily loaded with H₂S and CO₂, owing to the low pressure of the process. Thus, in some embodiments, the rich amine stream from the TGT process is used as a semi-lean stream for the first or second co-current contacting system 104A or 104B. The semi-lean stream (not shown) may be pumped to a suitable pressure and injected into the first or second co-current contacting system 104A or 104B, possibly along with the partially-loaded gas treating solution from the succeeding co-current contacting system.

Further, in the gas processing system 160 of FIG. 1B, the first partially-loaded treating solution 118A is flowed through a heat exchanger 162 after being flowed through the flash drum 121. Within the heat exchanger 162, the temperature of the first partially-loaded solvent solution 118A is increased via heat exchange with the lean solvent 112 taken from the regenerator 110. This serves to heat the first partially-loaded treating solution 118A before introduction into the regenerator 110, while cooling the lean solvent stream 112.

The process flow diagram of FIG. 1B is not intended to indicate that the gas processing system 160 is to include all of the components shown in FIG. 1B. Further, any number of additional components may be included within the gas processing system 160, depending on the details of the specific implementation.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a co-current contacting system 200, e.g., any one of the co-current contacting systems 104A-F of FIG. 1. The components of FIG. 2 may be the substantially the same as the corresponding components of FIG. 1 except as otherwise noted. The co-current contacting system 200 has four contacting units 202 a-202 d separately supplied by a header 204 for a natural gas stream 102. The contacting units 202 a-202 d are separately supplied by a header carrying a lean solvent stream 206, e.g., a semi-lean solvent stream 108 or any of the partially-loaded gas treating solutions 118A-F, and received proximate to a first end of each contacting unit 202 a-202 d. Each contacting unit 202 a-202 d has an inlet nozzle 208 a-208 d (respectively) for atomizing and/or dividing the liquid solvent into a large number of small droplets and introducing the lean solvent stream 206. Atomizing the lean solvent stream 206 increases the surface area available for contact with the natural gas stream 102 and decreases the distances required for diffusion of acid gas components in both the vapor and liquid phases. Each contacting unit 202 a-202 d has a recycle gas inlet 210 a-210 d supplied by gas collected and returned from a seal pot or liquid boot 212 a-212 d. As depicted, each recycle gas inlet 210 a-210 d may include a swirl vane or equivalent structure to assist in separation. The seal pot or liquid boot 212 a-212 d may provide residence time for process control and may seal the contacting units 202 a-202 d to prevent gas bypass. Each contacting unit 202 a-202 d has a treated gas outlet 214 a-214 d and a rich solvent outlet 216 a-216 d. The treated gas outlets 214 a-214 d are depicted as comprising vortex tube finders, but alternate embodiments are well known in the art. Treated gas exiting the contacting units 202 a-202 d via the treated gas outlets 214 a-214 d may be combined and passed as the sweetened gas stream 106, while rich solvent exiting the contacting units 202 a-202 d via the rich solvent outlets 216 a-216 d may be combined and passed as the rich solvent stream 126.

In operation, each contacting unit 202 a-202 d receives a natural gas stream 102 at an inlet section 220, where the inlet nozzles 208 a-208 d atomize a lean solvent stream 206 and expose it to the natural gas stream 102, creating a mixed, two-phase flow or combined stream (not depicted). The mixed, two-phase flow or combined stream passes through a mass transfer section 222 where absorption occurs. The mass transfer section 222 may comprise a tubular body having a substantially empty bore having one or more surface features, e.g., a hydrophobic surface 402 of FIG. 4A, a superhydrophobic surface 404 of FIG. 4A, a raised surface 450 of FIG. 4B, a recessed surface, or any combination thereof, along an inner surface of the mass transfer section 222. A separation section 224 follows the mass transfer section. In the separation section 224, entrained liquid droplets are removed from the gas stream, e.g., using a cyclone inducing element, resulting in an at least partially dehydrated and/or decontaminated treated gas stream. In some embodiments, the inlet section 220 and the mass transfer section 222 may collectively be referred to as a contacting section. The length of the contacting section may be determined based on the residence time required to obtain a predetermined decontamination and/or dehydration level for the natural gas stream 102, e.g., in view of the intended flow rate, pressure drop, etc. The treated gas stream exits the contacting units 202 a-202 d through the outlet section 226. The contacting units 202 a-202 d may operate at about 400 psig to about 1,200 psig, or higher. Because the contacting units 202 a-202 d must be individually constructed so as to tolerate these pressures, weight and/or footprint increases linearly as the number of contacting units 202 a-202 d is increased.

Co-current contactors are increasingly becoming more compact, both in length and diameter. As this trend increases, it is important to ensure as much solvent as possible reacts in the increasingly shortened mixing and/or mass transfer section. The H₂S reaction is instantaneous relative to the CO₂ reactions, lowering the residence time, i.e., the contact time between the vapor and liquid phases, will result in less CO₂ being absorbed into the solvent. The design of the co-current contacting systems 104A-F enhances selective H₂S removal due to the short contact time inherent in the equipment design. Disclosed herein are techniques for inhibiting or impeding an amount of liquid from propagating along a wall of the mass transfer section using a surface feature. By inhibiting or impeding liquid propagation along a wall of the mass transfer section, a comparatively greater amount of solvent is retained in the interior volume of the mass transfer section and, consequently, remains available for reaction.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of a single stage multiple co-current contactor bundle configuration 300. The components of FIG. 3 are substantially the same as the corresponding components of FIG. 2 except as otherwise noted. The single stage multiple co-current contactor bundle configuration 300 is generally contained within a vessel 302 which may form a unitary (single and/or common) pressure boundary for the compact contacting occurring therein. The vessel 302 generally contains a single stage bundle of substantially parallel separation units or compact contactors comprising contacting units 202 a-202 n, also referred to herein as separation units. Those of skill in the art will understand that the number of contacting units 202 a-202 n in the bundle of compact contactors may be optionally selected based on the desired design characteristics, including desired flow rate, separation unit diameter, etc., and could number from anywhere between one to 300 or more units. The use of the letter nomenclature (i.e., ‘a’, ‘b’, ‘n’, etc.) in conjunction with the numerical reference characters is for ease of reference only and is not limiting. For example, those of skill in the art will understand that an illustrated set of contacting units 202 a-202 n may, in various embodiments, comprise two, four, five, twenty, or several hundred contacting units. The vessel 302 comprises an inlet tubesheet 304 having inlet nozzles 208 a-208 n in the inlet section 220. The inlet section 220 is configured to receive the natural gas stream 102 in a common inlet plenum through which the natural gas stream 102 may be distributed substantially equally across the contacting units 202 a-202 n. The contacting units 202 a-202 n may be of a suitable size depending on the design requirements. For example, the contacting units 202 a-202 n may have an individual diameter from about 2 inches (in) (about 5 centimeters (cm)) to about 24 in (about 61 cm), or any range there between. The inlet tubesheet 304 is configured to receive the lean solvent stream 206 and pass the lean solvent stream 206 to the inlet nozzles 208 a-208 n, where the lean solvent stream 206 may be atomized. In some embodiments, the lean solvent stream 206 originates from a glycol supply system (not depicted) and the lean solvent stream 206 comprises glycol. The inlet nozzles 208 a-208 n may serve to entrain the atomized solvent stream in the natural gas stream 102, and the mixed stream of atomized solvent and natural gas may be passed to the mass transfer section 222 where absorption occurs. Each contacting unit 202 a-202 n has a recycle gas inlet 210 a-210 n supplied by recycle gas collected and returned, e.g., from a common boot 316. The boot 316 may be optionally included in low liquid rate applications to improve liquid rate flow control. As depicted, the boot 316 may have an internal vortex breaker 317 or other appropriate internals. For ease of viewing, the recycle gas supply lines for each of the recycle gas inlets 210 a-210 n are not depicted. As will be understood by those of skill in the art, the recycle gas inlets 210 a-210 n are optional, and recycle gas may additionally or alternatively be sent downstream in other embodiments. Rich solvent exiting the contacting units 202 a-202 n via the rich solvent outlets 306 a-306 n may drain into a common liquid degassing section or common contaminated liquid collection plenum 312. The plenum 312 may provide sufficient residence time for desired degassing, may reduce liquid surges coming with the natural gas stream 102, and may provide liquid seal to a cyclonic separation occurring in a contacting section of the separation device 202 a-202 n. The residence time provided by the plenum 312 can vary from 5 seconds to 5 minutes, depending on the operation of the process, or from 30 seconds to 1 minute in various embodiments. The vessel 302 contains a mist eliminator 314, e.g., a wire mesh, vane pack plates, baffles, or other internal devices to reduce liquid droplet carry over from degassing gas leaving the liquid phase of rich solvent in the plenum 312. The mist eliminator 314 may also serve as a momentum breaker for the rich solvent liquid exiting the separation device 202 a-202 n to minimize aeration of the liquid. In embodiments installed in offshore facilities or floating facilities or otherwise subject to motion, the mist eliminator 314 may mitigate wave motion effects in the bottom portion of the vessel 302. Each contacting unit 202 a-202 n has a treated gas outlet 214 a-214 n and a rich solvent outlet 306 a-306 n. The vessel 302 has a vent 318 for expelling degassing gas, e.g., gas degassed from rich solvent collected in the plenum 312 that may be fed upstream or downstream of the multiple co-current contacting unit, depending on the process configuration. The treated gas outlets 214 a-214 n couple to an outlet tubesheet 310. The treated gas exiting the contacting units 202 a-202 n via the treated gas outlets 214 a-214 n may be referred to as the dehydrated and/or decontaminated natural gas stream 106. The vessel 302 also contains level control ports 320 a and 320 b for coupling a level control system (not depicted) and controlling the amount of rich solvent 326, e.g., a semi-lean solvent stream 108 or any of the partially-loaded gas treating solutions 118A-F, exiting the boot 316. Rich solvent 326 exiting the boot 316 may be sent to a regeneration system for treatment or combined with streams in other processes.

FIG. 4A is a schematic view of a liquid droplet 400, e.g., an atomized liquid droplet from a mixed, two-phase flow or combined stream of FIGS. 2-3, resting on a hydrophobic surface 402 and a superhydrophobic surface 404. As depicted, the contact angle 406 between the liquid droplet 400 and the hydrophobic surface 402 is between about 90° and about 150° and the contact angle 408 between the liquid droplet 400 and the superhydrophobic surface 404 is between about 150° and about 179°. While not depicted, the hydrophobic surface 402, the superhydrophobic surface 404, or both may comprise a plurality of microstructures to create a heterogeneous texture for contacting the surface area of the liquid droplet 400, e.g., via the Lotus effect. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that a variety of techniques, e.g., etching, silicon or other coatings, pitting, etc., may be utilized to obtain a Lotus effect characteristic (e.g., hydrophobicity and/or superhydrophobicity) along a surface, and this disclosure is not limited to any particular technique.

FIG. 4B is a schematic view of a raised surface 450, e.g., a surface feature on an inner wall of the mass transfer section 222 of FIGS. 2-3, having an impingement angle 452, e.g., an orthogonal (about 90°) or non-orthagonal impingement angle (not about 90°), relative to a direction of flow 454 of a stream, e.g., the mixed, two-phase flow or combined stream of FIG. 2, having a liquid droplet 456, e.g., a liquid droplet from a mixed, two-phase flow or combined stream of FIG. 2, traveling therewith. While depicted as a linear, raised surface extending into a diameter of a mass transfer section, e.g., the mass transfer section 222 of FIGS. 2-3, other raised surfaces are suitable for impingement by the liquid droplet 456, e.g., non-linear, curved, scalloped, ridged, or irregular textures disposed on a parallel, raised, or recessed surface. Some embodiments may alternately or additionally include one or more slots, channels, grooves, fins, rifling, baffles, wall wipers, static mixers, etc. for disaggregating, dispersing, or directing a liquid droplet 456 along or away from a wall, e.g., a wall of the mass transfer section 222 of FIGS. 2-3, and such features may further include defining edges that function in the same manner as the raised non-orthagonal surface 450. All such means of and/or structures for impeding an amount of liquid from propagating along a wall, e.g., a wall of the mass transfer section 222, by disaggregating, dispersing, disposing, or directing the amount of liquid away from the wall, e.g., a wall of the mass transfer section 222 of FIGS. 2-3, are to be considered within the scope of this embodiment except as otherwise noted. In some embodiments, the raised surface 450 includes structures that are non-orthogonal relative the direction of flow 454. In some embodiments, extending a surface across the diameter of a mass transfer section may be impractical or may unacceptably reduce one or more performance characteristics of a contactor. Consequently, in some embodiments the raised surface 450 does not extend across the diameter of a mass transfer section, e.g., the mass transfer section 222 of FIGS. 2-3. Some embodiments may comprise a raised surface 450 (orthogonal or non-orthagonal) that extends into between 1% and 90% of the diameter of the mass transfer section, into between 1% and 80% of the diameter of the mass transfer section, into between 1% and 70% of the diameter of the mass transfer section, into between 1% and 60% of the diameter of the mass transfer section, into between 1% and 50% of the diameter of the mass transfer section, into between 1% and 40% of the diameter of the mass transfer section, into between 1% and 30% of the diameter of the mass transfer section, into between 1% and 20% of the diameter of the mass transfer section, into between 1% and 10% of the diameter of the mass transfer section, into between 1% and 5% of the diameter of the mass transfer section, or any ranges therebetween.

As described above, various embodiments of each of the contacting units 202 a-202 d may include one or more surface features, e.g., a hydrophobic surface 402 of FIG. 4A, a superhydrophobic surface 404 of FIG. 4A, a raised surface 450 of FIG. 4B, a recessed surface, or any combination thereof, along an inner wall of the mass transfer section 222 or at least a portion thereof. The surface features on the inner surfaces of the mass transfer sections 222 may comprise a dimpled texture, a sawtooth texture, a sandpaper texture, or other nonlinear surface irregularity extending radially inward or radially outward along the inner surface of the mass transfer section 222. The surface features may be disposed along the entire length of the inner surfaces of the mass transfer sections 222 or may only be disposed on a lesser portion thereof, e.g., along a bottom portion, at radial and/or axial intervals, etc. The surface features may impede an amount of liquid from coalescing and propagating along a wall of the mass transfer section 222, thereby reducing the likelihood of a laminar flow of solvent or “wall flow” along the wall of the mass transfer section 222. Those of skill in the art will appreciate that this effect may be of particular concern along horizontally disposed surfaces where gravity may facilitate droplet coalescing and/or wall flow.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a co-current contactor 500, e.g., any of the co-current contacting units 202 a-202 d of FIGS. 2-3, having a plurality of surface features. The components of FIG. 5 are substantially the same as the corresponding components of FIGS. 2-3 except as otherwise noted. The co-current contactor 500 includes a porous wall surface section 502 in the mass transfer section 222 configured to pass and/or inject a fluid, e.g., the natural gas stream 102, there through. The flow holes in the porous wall surface section 502 may be symmetrically or asymmetrically disposed and may extend along some or all of a circumference of at least a portion of the mass transfer section 222. In some embodiments, the flow holes in the porous wall surface section 502 comprise nozzles, patterns, or other features configured to direct the fluid, e.g., the natural gas stream 102, in a particular direction, e.g., to increase swirl, eddy current flow, etc. As the fluid passes through the flow holes in the porous wall surface section 502, a turbulent flow may impede an amount of liquid from propagating along a wall of the mass transfer section 222. The co-current contactor 500 includes a section 504 having a superhydrophobic surface 404 and a section 506 having a dimpled texture and/or surface feature, e.g., a plurality of raised surfaces 450.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a co-current contactor 600, e.g., any of the co-current contacting units 202 a-202 d of FIGS. 2-3, having a plurality of surface features. The components of FIG. 6 are substantially the same as the corresponding components of FIGS. 2-3 except as otherwise noted. The co-current contactor 600 includes a plurality of baffle rings 602 along an inner wall of the mass transfer section 222. The co-current contactor 600 further includes a plurality of static mixers 604 circumferentially disposed along an inner wall of the mass transfer section 222. The co-current contactor 600 additionally includes a liquid collection line 606 for collecting liquid along a lower end of the inner wall of the mass transfer section 222 and passing the collected liquid to a seal pot or liquid boot 212. Other liquid collection mechanisms will be apparent to those of skill in the art and are considered within the scope of this disclosure.

While it will be apparent that the invention herein described is well calculated to achieve the benefits and advantages set forth above, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the spirit thereof. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A co-current contactor for separating components in a fluid stream, the co-current contactor comprising: an inlet section having a first inlet configured to receive the fluid stream proximate to a first end of the co-current contactor and a second inlet configured to receive a solvent proximate the first end of the co-current contactor, the inlet section further including an inlet nozzle for atomizing the solvent into droplets and introducing the fluid stream; a mass transfer section configured to receive the fluid stream and the solvent and to provide a mixed, two-phase flow; and a separation section that removes entrained liquid droplets from the mixed, two-phase flow; wherein the mass transfer section comprises a surface feature that is an integral part of a surface of an inner wall of the mass transfer section, the surface feature configured to reduce film flow along an inner wall of the mass transfer section, and wherein the surface feature comprises a nonlinear surface irregularity extending radially inward or radially outward along the inner surface of the mass transfer section; and wherein no surface features are present in the inlet section.
 2. The co-current contactor of claim 1, wherein the nonlinear surface irregularity comprises a texture of the surface of the inner wall, and wherein the texture is selected from the group consisting of a curved texture, a scalloped texture, a ridged texture, a dimpled texture, a sawtooth texture, and a sandpaper texture.
 3. The co-current contactor of claim 1, wherein the nonlinear surface irregularity comprises a groove for directing flow along a path that is not parallel to a direction of flow of the two-phase flow.
 4. The co-current contactor of claim 1, wherein the nonlinear surface irregularity has an impingement angle for redirecting a film flow away from the wall.
 5. The co-current contactor of claim 4, wherein the impingement angle is non-orthogonal relative to a direction of flow of the two-phase flow, and wherein the nonlinear surface irregularity does not extend across the diameter of the mass transfer section.
 6. The co-current contactor of claim 4, wherein the nonlinear surface irregularity comprises a first raised surface and a second raised surface, and wherein the impingement angle of the first raised surface is greater than the impingement angle of the second raised surface.
 7. The co-current contactor of claim 1, further comprising: a liquid boot that collects the entrained liquid droplets removed from the fluid stream.
 8. The co-current contactor of claim 7, further comprising: a recycle gas inlet connecting the liquid boot with the separation section, the recycle gas inlet supplying the separation with recycle gas collected in the liquid boot.
 9. The co-current contactor of claim 7, further comprising: a liquid collection line running from a lower end of the inner wall of the mass transfer section to the liquid boot, the liquid collection line passing liquid separated from the mixed, two-phase flow in the mass transfer section to the liquid boot, thereby permitting the separated liquid to bypass the separation section.
 10. A co-current contacting system for separating a contaminant from an initial gas stream, comprising: a gas stream supply; a solvent supply; a first co-current contactor and a second co-current contactor, wherein each co-current contactor is configured (i) to receive a gas stream and a liquid solvent, and (ii) to release a treated gas stream and a separate gas-treating solution; wherein the treated gas stream released by the first co-current contactor comprises the gas stream received by the second co-current contactor; wherein the gas-treating solution released by the second co-current contactor comprises the liquid solvent received by the first co-current contactor; and wherein each of the co-current contactors comprises the elements of claim
 1. 11. A co-current contactor for separating components in a fluid stream, the co-current contactor comprising: an inlet section having a first inlet configured to receive a first portion of the fluid stream proximate to a first end of the co-current contactor and a second inlet configured to receive a solvent proximate the first end of the co-current contactor, the inlet section further including an inlet nozzle for atomizing the solvent into droplets and introducing the fluid stream; a mass transfer section configured to receive the first portion of the fluid stream and the solvent and to provide a mixed, two-phase flow; and a separation section that removes entrained liquid droplets from the mixed, two-phase flow; wherein the mass transfer section comprises a surface feature on a surface of an inner wall of the mass transfer section, the surface feature configured to reduce film flow along an inner wall of the mass transfer section, and wherein the surface feature comprises a porous wall surface, the porous wall surface having holes for injecting a second portion of the fluid stream into the mass transfer section, to thereby direct the mixed, two phase flow radially inward into the mass transfer section; and wherein no surface features are present in the inlet section.
 12. A method of separating components in a co-current contactor, comprising: passing a first portion of a fluid into an inlet section of the co-current contactor; passing a solvent into the inlet section of the co-current contactor; using an inlet nozzle, atomizing the solvent into droplets and introducing the fluid stream, wherein the inlet nozzle places the first portion of the fluid in contact with the solvent to create a combined stream; passing the combined stream through a mass transfer section of the co-current contactor; impeding an amount of liquid from propagating along a wall of the mass transfer section using a surface feature of an inner wall of the mass transfer section, the surface feature being an integral part of the inner wall, and wherein no surface features are present in the inlet section; and separating the fluid from the solvent.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein impeding the amount of liquid from propagating along the wall comprises impinging the amount of liquid on a surface such that the amount of liquid is directed radially inward.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein impeding the amount of liquid from propagating along the wall comprises directing the amount of liquid along a path that is not parallel to a direction of flow of the combined stream.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein impeding the amount of liquid from propagating along the wall comprises reducing the surface area of the amount of liquid contacting the wall.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising impinging the liquid on a raised wall surface extending radially inward.
 17. The method of claim 12, wherein impeding the amount of liquid from propagating along the wall comprises injecting a second portion of the fluid through holes in at least a portion of the wall such that the amount of liquid is directed radially inward. 